People’s resist in Tripura’s Satchand: Jitendra Chaudhury Declares BJP’s Fall Certain
Rahul Sinha
The Satchand area of Sabroom subdivision in southern Tripura became the stage for an extraordinary show of public defiance and unity on November 4. Hundreds of men and women, tribal and non-tribal alike, poured into the streets to voice their grievances and assert their rights, transforming the region into a sea of red flags and raised fists. Their determination and resilience painted a vivid picture of people unwilling to bow down to repression.
The rally, organized by the Ganamukti Parishad (GMP) and Tribal Youth Federation (TYF), was meant to submit a seven-point public demand to the Satchand Block Development Officer. The demands included repairing the dilapidated Manu Bazar-Poangbari road, ensuring timely MGNREGA payments, ending political bias in PM Awas Yojana geo-tagging, freeing encroached community property, providing household water connections, curbing drug trafficking, and holding long-pending village committee elections.
Despite the scorching sun, people from remote villages joined the march, their chants and slogans echoing through the dusty roads. But as the rally advanced along the national highway and neared Satchand Block, the police stopped it at Satchand Bazaar, citing potential law-and-order concerns. Their justification: a religious yajna organized by BJP activists near the block office, allegedly without permission. The move angered the marchers, who questioned why the unauthorized event was allowed to proceed while their permitted rally was halted.
As the police tried to block the path, the demonstrators turned those spots into impromptu meeting. Addressing gathering, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Tripura State Secretary Jitendra Chowdhury saluted the people’s courage. He said, “People are awakening and speaking out - and that has terrified the rulers. The fall of the BJP is inevitable. Continue the struggle with courage and unity, looking the rulers straight in the eye.”
Chowdhury accused the BJP-led government of pushing anti-people policies, enabling corruption, and allowing hooligans to assault ordinary citizens over the past seven and a half years. “The BJP-IPFT-Tipra Motha alliance is terrified of the people’s voices,” he said. “They came to power with a minority vote and have since looted public resources and destroyed democratic institutions.”
He clarified that the struggle was not against the police or government employees, but against the BJP and RSS leadership. “They too are our own people, suffering under the same regime. We could have broken the barricades, but we chose peace - because our fight is for democracy, not against it.” “Being stopped today is not a defeat-it is a victory for democracy. The BJP’s downfall is inevitable. We must take this fight to every home, build strength, and demand justice. Even those within the BJP who seek peace and development should join us.”
Chowdhury also accused the ruling party of misusing religion for political gain. “Sanatan Dharma never teaches us to loot or to act against the Constitution,” he said. “Yet the BJP and RSS commit injustice in its name. When people rise for democratic rights, they call it a disturbance. How afraid must they be of the people to block their path?”
Other speakers, including TYF President Kaushik Rai Debbarma, GMP Divisional Secretary Prabhat Chowdhury, and CPI(M) Sabroom Subdivisional Secretary Arun Tripura, echoed his sentiments, vowing to intensify the struggle in the days ahead.
Administrative officials were forced to step outside the office to receive the memorandum from the protestors. Since the BDO was in a meeting with the South Tripura District Magistrate, the DCM from Sabroom accepted it, reportedly saying, “We apologize for stopping the rally.”
For a day, the streets of Satchand belonged entirely to the people - people fighting for dignity, livelihood, and justice. Their march, powered by collective resolve, symbolized the awakening of a spirit long suppressed. As one observer put it, the red tide that surged through Satchand was not just a protest - it was a declaration that the struggle for democracy and people’s rights in Tripura is far from over.
Opposition Questions CM’s ‘Secret’ Meet with ST Officers
A recent meeting chaired by Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha with a group of selected officers belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community has sparked debate and controversy across political and media circles.
According to media reports, the closed-door meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s residence and attended by a few officers from the ST community. However, the purpose and nature of the meeting remain unclear, prompting questions from opposition leaders.
Leader of the Opposition and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Jitendra Chaudhury was among the first to raise the issue publicly. After mentioning it in a social media post earlier, Chaudhury issued an official press release on Tuesday, posing several pointed questions to the state government and the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
In his statement, Chaudhury noted that his earlier remarks had triggered “a good debate” among sections of the local media and the public.
“A good debate has been sparked in the media space, particularly among a section of local dailies and individuals, following one of my social media posts regarding a recent exclusive meeting held by the Hon’ble Chief Minister at his residence, which was attended by a few selected officers belonging to a particular community. I welcome this debate,” Chaudhury said. “In continuation of that, I would like to put forward the following questions before the public, interested media friends, and the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, in order to put an end to the controversies that have arisen.”
He then outlined three key questions seeking clarity on the nature and conduct of the meeting. First, he asked about the purpose of the meeting, questioning which department had convened it if its aim was to improve coordination among government departments in implementing welfare schemes for a particular community or area. Second, he raised concern over the absence of senior officials, pointing out that if the Chief Minister himself chaired the meeting, it would be expected that the Chief Secretary or senior Principal Secretaries be present. Chaudhury noted that the only senior officer in attendance was Sri Uttam Chakma, a retired official currently serving as Secretary to the Governor on re-employment. Finally, he questioned the meeting’s documentation, noting that as per standard government procedure, minutes and attendance lists are usually prepared and published after any multi-departmental meeting-even at the block level-and asked whether such records were made public in this instance. The Leader of the Opposition concluded by urging the Chief Minister’s Office to clarify these points “in the interest of transparency and to put an end to the ongoing controversy.” (Rahul Sinha)
